Ozaukee County Democrats Continue to Grow

Another great week with the Ozaukee County Democrats. There were over 100 people at our membership meeting last Wednesday. Gubernatorial candidate Fran Hong joined us. Great questions for her from our members. On Saturday at the Fish Days Parade, we had Assembly candidates Dana Glasstein and Jack Holzman as well as Congressional candidates Amanda Bell and Brad Smith and many of you walking and smiling. The crowd gave us a lot of applause and hugs, and we gave them lots of beads and candy. We also continue to see a growing number of participants marching in local parades. Ozaukee County Democrats continue to grow.

Well, that was fun! Now onto this primary and general election. My mode of operation has always been: do not underestimate the other side. I believe this will be even more true of the Republicans this election season. We were watching a rather bleak Brewers game last night against the Mets. There were two political ads: one anti-Tiffany ad by Francesca Hong, and one really nasty ad by Republicans that pulled out all the hate mantras. The GOP played their fear-themed greatest hits: socialism, transgendering everyone, men in girls’ sports, gender mutilation of children, open borders, violent illegal aliens, communism, a little more immigration fear, and more socialism. 

According to Ed Kilgore in the July 20th issue of New York Magazine, “Republicans admit the GOP’s midterm forecast is bleak. But they’re clinging to two hopes: voters’ fear and loathing of Democrats. It’s going to be a hate election,” a Republican tied to President Trump’s political operation told Axios. “Voters have to hate the Dems more than they hate us.”

Trump knows what people want to hear, but that doesn’t mean that he follows through on his promises. In fact, we know he has not done so. He still cares more about energizing his base than trying to expand it. We know Trump is more motivated by increasing his wealth than he is by tackling a really tough economy to help everyday Americans. He has made offhand comments about military contracts. “We’re making a lot of money.”  According to the New York Times, his son Don Jr.’s investment firm has profited over 200% from at least three defense contracts.

Back to Kilgore at New York Magazine, “casting the midterms as a vast ideological struggle is not a bad way to draw attention away from the modest public expectations that Republicans have failed to meet, and the 2024 promises Trump has broken. Arguably his superpower as a demagogic leader is to turn election campaigns into mud-wrestling matches in which the audience eventually just wants it all to end and everyone winds up looking filthy. It may be the only kind of 2026 election in which his party has a chance of surviving with its power intact.”

Be prepared to dodge the mud, stay away from Taylor Farms lettuce, and let me know if you have talked with Mitch McConnell. Thank you for staying involved by joining the protests. Hang out with Democrats Friday night at the Fermatorium from 7-9. Don’t forget to come see us at the Ozaukee County Fair.

Thanks for all you do in supporting us and helping Ozaukee County Democrats continue to grow.